IIHS Awards 8 Family Vehicles with ‘Superior’ Crash Prevention Ratings

It’s official, summer is now in full swing, and an increase in temperatures means more cars on the roadways. While Floridians may not have had to endure a harsh winter like some parts of the U.S., many drivers and families living in those colder states will be making a trek to Florida at some point to visit all the beautiful attractions our Sunshine State boasts. While making that long drive to the beach this summer, drivers can be faced with numerous distractions when travelling with a large group of excited children in warmer temperatures. Combine that with the increased amount of pedestrians and bicyclists on the streets in the summer months and there is a very real potential for disaster.

However, recent advancements in vehicle technology are working to make the roads safer for everyone. What was initially only available in luxury model vehicles, cameras, radar and braking systems are becoming more readily available in a variety of less expensive cars. These technology systems have the potential to prevent a serious collision.

Crash prevention systems include the following features:

• Autobrake: When the front of a car gets too close to another object, the vehicle automatically applies the brakes.
• Forward Collision Warning: The driver is alerted via audible and visual warnings when he or she is getting too close to another vehicle or object.• Lane Departure Warning: When a driver starts to drift into another lane, again audible and visual warnings will alert the driver of this error.
• Lane Departure Prevention: This feature will actually straighten the steering wheel and keep the vehicle from drifting into another lane.
• Adaptive Headlights: These will reposition themselves to follow and foresee any curves in the road.
• Blind Spot Detection: This uses cameras, lasers and radar to warn drivers of potential hazards in their blind spots.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently put several mainstream and luxury family cars to the test using their frontal crash prevention research. For every one of the sedans featured in the study, the vehicle’s autobrake was tested at both 12 and 25 miles per hour. The cars were then given a score based on the ability to slow down and avoid a crash with the object in front of the vehicle. In addition, vehicles were given extra points if they were outfitted with a forward collision warning.

Of these vehicles tests, four earned a perfect score, including The BMW 5-series, BMW X5, Hyundai Genesis and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The Buick Regal, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Impala all earned a “superior” rating. Another 13 vehicles received an “advanced” rating, while three others earned a “basic” rating.

This technology continues to show that it can help dramatically reduce the number of car accident injuries and fatalities, especially since pedestrian injuries are at a five-year high. It is very important for all drivers to pay extra close attention to the roadways in the summer months since foot traffic is at its heaviest and driver distractions continue to be a leading cause of pedestrian accidents. With that said, if you or a loved one becomes injured as a result of a car accident in New Port Richey, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Land O’Lakes, Hudson, Holiday, Lutz, Trinity or Wesley Chapel, you are urged to contact a Pasco County Auto Accident Injury Attorney at Whittel & Melton as soon as possible. For a free consultation regarding your accident, please call us today at 727-847-2299.